WASHINGTON, July 17, 2025 – The United States has recorded 1,288 measles cases so far this year—the highest number since the disease was declared eliminated nationally in 2000, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
This dramatic resurgence spans 40 jurisdictions and represents a sharp warning sign of waning vaccine protection and growing public health vulnerability.
The CDC reported that 92% of those infected were either unvaccinated or had an unknown vaccination status, with most outbreaks concentrated in communities with MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccination rates below the 95% threshold required for herd immunity. Texas and New Mexico are among the hardest-hit states, with Texas alone accounting for over 750 cases and multiple child deaths—marking the first measles fatalities in the U.S. in nearly a decade.
Since its official elimination 25 years ago, measles has only occasionally appeared in limited clusters linked to international travel. But this year’s outbreak marks a troubling shift in scale and spread. The CDC has identified 29 separate outbreaks already in 2025, more than double the average seen in recent years.
Dr. William Moss, a measles expert from Johns Hopkins University, told Reuters that the country is now “at serious risk of losing its measles elimination status,” a designation achieved through decades of consistent vaccination and surveillance efforts. That status is contingent on the absence of continuous disease transmission for 12 months or more.
The rise in cases coincides with a sharp drop in routine childhood immunizations following the COVID-19 pandemic. Health officials say misinformation, vaccine hesitancy, and policy shifts under current HHS leadership have accelerated the decline. Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a longtime vaccine skeptic, has come under criticism for what many see as a passive response to the growing measles threat.
The MMR vaccine remains one of the most effective immunizations in public health, offering 97% protection after two doses. CDC officials are ramping up vaccination campaigns and providing emergency support to states, including laboratory testing and technical aid, in an effort to prevent further spread and restore high coverage levels.
Experts warn that unless swift action is taken, the measles resurgence could pave the way for the return of other preventable diseases such as rubella, mumps, and whooping cough—threatening decades of public health gains.